Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Texas Law Allowing Arrests of Suspected Illegal Immigrants

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Texas' Senate Bill 4, which would have allowed local police to arrest individuals suspected of being in the state illegally and authorized local judges to order someone to return to Mexico, regardless of their nationality. The judge ruled that the law is likely unconstitutional and conflicts with federal immigration law. The legislation, scheduled to go into effect on March 5, is now on hold as the case continues, with the state of Texas appealing the ruling. The plaintiffs, including the ACLU of Texas, cheered the decision, while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling "incorrect" and stated that his office appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.